NFL Free Agency opens up on Wednesday, with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday. The top free agents usually all commit to a team during that period, so be ready to rock and roll to start next week.
Denver, CO
Peyton Manning Reacts to Bo Nix Skipping the Pro Bowl
With the Pro Bowl quarterbacks dropping out like flies, Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix — voted an alternate in December — had the invitation to go fill a spot. Nix declined due to undergoing a “minor” procedure back home.
It would have been nice to have a Pro Bowl on Nix’s resume already. However, according to Peyton Manning, there are other benefits to the Pro Bowl games that Nix unfortunately opted to forgo.
“I wish he could have come down here,” Manning said via Denver Sports‘ Andrew Mason. “I think this would have benefited him to be around pros like Joe Burrow. Anyway, [he had a] great first year, and sky’s the limit for him.”
With upcoming surgery, Bo Nix declined to attend the Pro Bowl as an alternate — which would have had him playing for “coach” Peyton Manning & being around other standouts: “I wish he could have come down here,” Manning said. “I think it would have benefited him to be around pros… pic.twitter.com/0wLZBlK6ng
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 1, 2025
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In a perfect world, Nix would surely have loved to spend time around ‘Coach’ Manning and the other high-level AFC quarterbacks like Burrow. But delaying the “routine and minor” cleanup procedure this past week would have kicked the can down the road and risked further exacerbating the issue.
Nix suffered a transverse process fracture in his back in Week 12, and played through the injury. While mum’s been the word on exactly what Nix is having “cleaned up,” it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to deduce it might have something to do with his back.
Obviously, Nix opted to bite the bullet on the procedure now, despite the cost of declining the Pro Bowl, to allow himself the maximum amount of time possible to recover before OTAs roll around, which is followed by the grueling training camp experience, then the 17-game war of attrition that is the regular season.
Basically, Nix put the Broncos first, before the Pro Bowl accolade, and that should be an encouraging thing to fans. He wasn’t slathering to get the a Pro Bowl next to his name on Wikipedia. He wants to be 100% healthy to help the Broncos take the next step in 2025.
Nix was the first quarterback to lead the Broncos to the playoffs since Manning in 2015. Manning joined the Broncos as a free agent in 2012, and led the team to four straight AFC West crowns, two AFC Championships, and won a Super Bowl.
Manning held the rookie passing touchdown record for 10-plus years before Russell Wilson tied him in 2012 (26). Baker Mayfield broke the record in 2018 with 27, which was followed by Justin Herbert obliterating the mark in 2020.
Nix passed for 29 touchdowns, the second-most in NFL history for a rookie, and just three short of breaking Herbert’s mark. In more ways than one, Nix’s rookie year was historic.
He reset the Broncos rookie record books, and joined John Elway in several distinctions and milestones. Best of all, he finally led the Broncos out of the doldrums, after wandering the quarterback desert for nearly a decade post-Manning.
Something tells me this won’t be Nix’s last chance to rub elbows with the NFL’s top quarterbacks at the Pro Bowl.
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Denver, CO
Ranking the Broncos free agent needs on offense
I figured now would be a good time to do a little discussion around the Denver Broncos and where we think their top priorities should be on offense when free agency kicks off.
Broncos top FA needs on offense
Tim Lynch: For free agency, I’d say running back and tight end are the highest on my wish list.
I’d say pay big for a top free agent running back and ensure you have a monster two-headed backfield next season. They need a superior run-blocking tight end and, if they move on from Evan Engram, a pass-catcher too.
Christopher Hart: I agree with Tim. Those are the biggest needs for the offense. Getting a top-notch running back and a tight end capable of playing inline to replace Adam Trautman is a must. The two players I advocated a few weeks ago were running back Travis Etienne and tight end Cade Otton. Both would be fantastic additions and help take Denver’s offense to the next level in 2026.
Scotty Payne: Playmaker is the top and biggest need. That includes a RB, TE, and/or WR in that order.
Need to improve the run game regardless, need some sort of production out of the TEs as well as improved blocking, and if they can get a true WR1, that would be great too.
Ross Allen: I think we’re all in agreement.
Getting someone who can be the dominant running back and have RJ Harvey serve that glamorous “joker” role would be huge for this offense. And given that they also don’t have a legitimate playmaker at the receiving position hurts them. A TE or WR can fill that role.
Sadaraine: The #1 need for the Broncos on offense is a top-notch running back. I will be blown away if the Broncos don’t sign a top-tier free agent running back to upgrade the offense (and no, J.K. Dobbins wouldn’t be that guy…not with his injury history).
There’s a significant gap in need after that until we start talking about tight ends and receivers. I think we’re more likely to see more money spent on a tight end than a receiver, but this offense could use both to be sure.
Ian St. Clair: Not to beat a dead horse, but running back is the biggest need and priority for this team when free agency starts. Having a consistent and effective running game will make Nix and the offense exponentially better. It will make the team better. After running back, the Broncos need to figure out their tight end.
Adam Malnati: Give Bo a weapon. I don’t care which position. Yes, RB is a need. Yes, TE is a need (thanks a lot Evan Engram). Still, a weapon would be nice.
Predictably, we’re all heavily keyed in on running back and tight end. That was a big part of our free agent profile coverage too and for good reason. There have been many rumors around Denver looking to target both positions next week and where there is smoke there is usually fire.
The question really becomes: go big or go affordable? With the championship window open, I’m leaning go big on premium play-maker positions this offseason.
Where do you stand on this discussion? Give us your top free agent needs on offense and how you hope the Broncos address them next week.
Denver, CO
Denver area events for March 5
Denver, CO
Report: Broncos expected to ‘make a splash’ at running back
The Denver Broncos are in the market for a running back.
Just two days after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver wants to have the running back position addressed before the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos are “poised to make a splash” at running back during NFL free agency.
“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn’t get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match,” Jones wrote for CBS Sports.
Jones said the Broncos would be an obvious potential landing spot for Kenneth Walker, and he noted that Travis Etienne could be a cheaper alternative. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider also reported this week that Denver is expected to “closely examine” the RB market, and he name-dropped Walker, Etienne and Rico Dowdle.
The Broncos also have an in-house free agent at RB in J.K. Dobbins, who has expressed his desire to remain in Denver. The Broncos can begin negotiating with pending free agents from other clubs on March 9, but no deals can become official until the new league year begins on March 11. In-house free agents can be re-signed at any time.
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